Flattered by Fergie’s reported interest - Boro suddenly found themselves facing the very real possibility of losing their keeper Mark Schwarzer on a free transfer.

Manchester United or Arsenal? Take your pick? Or an extended deal at the Riverside.

Those were the options available to the 32-year-old if the stories doing the rounds in the tabloids were to be believed.

With Jens Lehmann looking far from a safe bet between the sticks for the Gunners, Arsenal were said to be in the market for a new keeper.

And Manchester United were also said to be keeping a close eye on Boro’s form stopper.

Sir Alex Ferguson had a close-up view of the net-minder at his best when Schwarzer put in a superb display during Boro’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford just a few days earlier.

Throw in a man of the match performance against Everton and an excellent showing against Banik Ostrava in the UEFA Cup and Schwarzer was a man on song.

But his comments on this day in 2004 were of slight concern for Boro fans.

“The rumours are flattering and if they are true, it’s even more flattering,” Schwarzer was quoted as saying during an international break with Australia.

“It obviously shows, from my point of view, that I am obviously doing something right if people are trying to link me to a club as big as Manchester United.”

With Schwarzer’s contract due to expire at the end of the current season, the experienced keeper was in a position where, in less than three months, he could start talking to new clubs about a potential move.

At 32, Schwarzer could still offer stability between the sticks for plenty of years to come.

Boro were keen to tie him down on a new deal while Schwarzer was focused on maintaining his current good form.

“I am reasonably happy, although there is always room for improvement, but things have gone reasonably well for me and that is what you aim for,” he told the Gazette.

“You aim to have a bit of consistency and to play well and for me obviously it’s vitally important for me because of my contractual situation I’m in at the moment.”